Working Holiday Visa

1. PURPOSE OF JAPAN-AUSTRALIA WORKING HOLIDAY SCHEME

The governments of Japan and Australia introduced the Japan-Australia Working Holiday Scheme on 1 December 1980. The scheme is intended to promote mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries. Visas are issued to youth intent on accomplishing these purposes whilst planning a long term stay and journey in the country. The Working Holiday visa is not intended to be a means of purely earning money.

2. ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORKING HOLIDAY SCHEME

a) Be an Australian citizen in Australia. Accordingly, Australian citizens, who are traveling or living abroad, will not be eligible.

b) Intend primarily to holiday in Japan for a specific period.

c) Be aged between 18 and 30 (both inclusive) at the time of application for the visa.

d) Not to be accompanied by children.

e) Possess a reasonable amount of funds for one’s maintenance during the initial period of stay in Japan. The minimum amount for a single person is A$2500 and for a married couple is A$3500.

f) Be in good physical and mental health and be of good character.

g) Have not previously been to Japan on a Japanese Working Holiday visa.

3. WHERE AND HOW DO YOU APPLY?

Residents of Western Australia, who wish to apply for a Working Holiday visa, are requested to apply in person to the Consulate-General of Japan at Perth. However, residents residing outside Perth metropolitan area may apply by mail. Residents of other states should apply to the Embassy or Consulate-General with jurisdiction over that state.

4. WORK CONDITIONS

The following special conditions must be abided by if you wish to work in Japan on a Working Holiday visa.

a) To fully appreciate diverse aspects of Japan, it is advised that the applicant moves to different areas within Japan at approximately 3 months intervals.

b) Work in nightclubs, bars and cabarets, dance halls, Pachinko bars etc., is not allowed. The Act Controlling Business Affecting Public Morals (Fueiho), Article 2; section 1 and 4, specify these prohibited areas of work.

5. HOW LONG CAN YOU STAY IN JAPAN?

In accordance with the conditions of the Working Holiday Scheme, the visa can only be issued as a single entry visa and is valid for an initial stay for 6 months, which will commence from the day of entry into Japan. Applications for extensions of your period of stay can be made at an Immigration Office (Immigration Services Agency of Japan) in Japan; however, please note that extensions are granted at the discretion of the Department of Immigration in Japan and that there is no guarantee that an extension will be granted. Please attend to the extension prior to the expiration of your visa.

6. HELPFUL INFORMATION

●Resident Card (Zairyu Card)

The Resident card will be issued at the Narita, Haneda, Chubu and Kansai airports to those entering Japan with a mid to long-term resident status (usually a period of stay for more than 3 months). However, for those entering at all other airports, the Resident card will be mailed by the Registered Mail to the individual’s residential address after your residential address is registered with your local city hall. For further information, please contact your nearest Immigration office in Japan.
The Resident card must be carried by the owner at all times.

Immigration Services Agency of Japan: http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/

●Income tax

Working holiday makers’ earnings are taxed at a uniform 20%, which is deducted at source.

●Health insurance

Working holiday makers are advised to make arrangements prior to departure for Japan to ensure that they are fully insured for all medical expenses incurred in connection with illness, injury or accident during their stay in Japan. Japan’s National Health Insurance Scheme does not usually cover visiting foreigners and private health insurance purchased in Japan is much more expensive than in Australia.

However, all workers to whom the Labour standards Law is applicable, regardless of nationality are covered by the Workers’ Accident Compensation Insurance when in employment. Accordingly, should an Australian working holiday maker fall ill, be injured or be disabled while in employment, he/she will be eligible to receive the benefits of the insurance.

●Job seeking in Japan

The national public employment security office (Hello Work) and the Employment service centre for foreigners in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya provide assistance to job-seeking in Japan.
(http://www.mhlw.go.jp/bunya/koyou/gaikokujin.html#topics)